Google Glass, coming soon to an eyeglass store near you?

Google Glass has been
available to a limited pool of deep-pocketed beta testers for many months now. In order to snag a pair, you had to pony up $1500 and get a special invitation. Those who made the cut could join the Google Glass Explorer program and wear the beta version of Google’s wearable
Android computer mounted in faux eyewear. In the intervening months, Google
Glass has evolved, now sporting an app store specifically for Glass that dramatically expands the
value of the glasses.

Last week Google finally addressed one of the
longest standing complaints with Glass -- it wasn’t practical for people who
already wear prescription glasses. Now, with the addition of the new frames, you can add the Glass hardware to actual prescription eyeglass frames.

Here’s how it works: You still need an invite from Google or
another person who’s already in the Google Glass Explorer program. You still
need to spend $1500 on the technology. But for another $225, you can choose
from among four frames in what Google calls its Titanium Collection. Add
prescription lenses to one of these frames, and the Google Glass hardware is
attached to the frame. The four styles go by the names Thin, Split, Curve, and
Bold – and while tastes vary, there’s probably something here that you will
find stylish. Google also offers two styles of sunglasses – Classic and Edge – for $150
each.

One of the advantages of the prescription frames is that
they obscure the Google Glass hardware. It’s not invisible by any means, but
the frames makes the glasses look more ordinary. You don’t stand out from the
crowd quite as much.

On the other hand, you’ll want to have a backup pair of
glasses handy for establishments that don’t take kindly to you wearing a
recording device on your head. The Glass hardware is not designed to be quickly
or easily removed from the frames.

If you’re intrigued, you’ll be happy to hear that your
health care plan’s vision coverage probably covers some of the cost of the
frames. VSP, for example, offsets about $120 of the cost of a Titanium.